Centrifugal



March 13, '1934. J, STUART, Dy 1,950,869

CENTRIFUGAL Filed June 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 30 6/ 551:.@5 11T-ffii 1 l A Mm /IVVE/YTR Patented Mar. 13, 1.934

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a centrifugal and particularly to a centrifugal of self-cleaning type adapted to handle materials continuously.

The ordinary used type of centrifugal is adapted only for batch operation since in the case of ordinary materials which it handles these materials tend to pile up on the perforatedwalls and remain there. The permanence of adhesion is particularly noticeable in the cases of materials such as nitrocotton which are generally treated centrifugally for removal ofthe nitrating acids. It is the broad object of` the present invention to provide a self-cleaning centrifugal which by reason of its self-cleaning action is adapted for a continuous treatment of substances to effect the separation of' liquid and solid portions' thereof.

Briey, the centrifugal comprises a cylinder formed by a helical portion of a continuous wire. During the rotary action the wire progresses from one end to the other of this helix thereby eiecting a constant changeoi relationbetween the various portionsl of the helix to eect the separation of the solid material adhering thereto. l

Other objects of the invention relating particularly to the details of construction willbecome apparent from the'following description read in commotion with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view partly in section of one form of the device; Fig. 2 is an elevation of inv section; v

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustroting the path through which the hexane who moves; and

' Fig. 4 is a sectional `detail showing the mounting of the wire to form the necessary helix.

The device is supported from a base conven tionally illustrated at 2 and includesv a frame 4 the same also partly carried by the base which forms a suitable mounting for certain-moving elements. The frame 4 forms a part of the liquid receiving casing 6, the trame and the casing being formed o f proper materials which will not be corroded in case the z centrifugal is being used for the separation ci acids or other corrosive materials from solid sub stances. A discharge portion is formed by a flange 8 which as will be clear hereafter extends in close proximity with the lower end of the helix. Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame 4 are upright spindles 10 carrying pulleys 12about which a belt 14 may be trained so that all of the spindles 10 are simultaneously rotated. The

intermediate portions of the spindles 10 take the form of drums 16 provided with annular grooves 18 Within which lie the convolutions 20 of a continuous wire or rod, or the like, of suitable material and dimensions.

At any instant the wire forms distinct portions, one of which is the helix 20, the convolutions of which are guided within the grooves 18 in the drums 16. It may be pointed out that the grooves in the drums 16 are separate and circular and not helical although the various lcorivolutions of the wire 20 do form a helix, the `roper maintenance of this helix being effected y longitudinal displacement of the grooves in the successive drums. From the top of the helix the wire extends outwardly as indicated at 22 while at the bottom of the helix it likewise extends outwardly as indicated at 24. A loop 26 is thereby formed extending about a guide disc 28,the wire being maintained in a groove in this disc by suitable small grooved puileys 30 and being properly guided where it ex- 75 tends away from the disc by grooved pulleys 32. A suitable passageway 34 is provided where the wire passes outwardly through the casing 6 so that any acid carried by the wire will be entrapped. Discharge of liquid from the casing 6 takes place as indicated at 36. Material is 80 charged into the helix through a' suitable conduit 38 and is carried away from the helix by a fur ther suitable conduit or chute 40. In order to properly distribute the incoming material about the walls of the helix there is provided a disc 42 85 carrying upright vanes 44 the disc being supported by a spindle 46 suitably mounted in the frame and driven through the medium of a belt trained about a pulley 48.

In the operation of the device the mixed solid and liquid material passesthrough the inlet conduit 38 upon the rapidly rotating disc 42 from which it is thrown by the action of vanes 44 against the helix formed by the wire 20. At this time by reason of the rotation oi' the spindles l0 the wire moves in the direction of the arrow., passing into the helix at 22 and threading downwardly to where it passes outwardly as indicated at 24. This rotation is preferably o! the order of 1'500 to 2500 R. P. M., averaging 100 about 2000 R.. P. M. and by reason oi? this rapid rotation the liquid is drawn outwardly intothe casing 6 whereas the solid material remains in contact with the convolutions of the wire,the

spacing between which is suitably small so that an openwork `basket is provided. The pitch of the helix which defines the size of the openings may of course be of any suitable degree to provide the proper openings which will pass the liquid but retain the solid portions of the matedeparture of the wire from the cylindrical contour previously followed. The solid materials which are still 4moving rapidly will then engage the inner portions of the-ilange 8 and be thereby guided downwardly to the discharge 40.

It will be seen from the above that the centrifugal is self-cleaning and capable of.eifecting continuous` operation inasmuch 'as the liquid is removed from the solid portions of the material being treated during the time when the material moves downwardly from the point of inlet to the point of exit.

It is found that by reason of the high speed of rotation the convolutions of the wire lare maintained centrifugally in proper engagement with the grooves 18 and that there is required no inner support therefor. Since thev disc 28 is Aarranged so that the wire engages it tangentially at the bottom of the helix and leaves it tangentially at the top thereof, no difiiculty is experienced in maintaining the loop v2,6 under proper control.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1./ A centrifugal including an endless member arranged to move helically to deiinel by a plurality of convolutions in proximity to each other a rotating basket, means arranged outside of the basket deiined for spacing and guiding the convolutions'of the member, means for so moving the member arranged outside of the'basket deiined, and means for introducing material into the basket so defined.

2. A centrifugal including an endless member arranged to move helically to define by a plurality of convolutions in proximity to each other a rotating basket, means arranged outside the basket defined for spacing and guiding the convolutions of the member, means for so moving the member arranged outside of the basket deiined, means for guiding the portion of the Amember' extending from one end of the basket to the other, and means for introducing material into the basket so defined. l

3. A centrifugal including an endless member arranged to move helically to vdefine by a plurality of convolutions in proximity to each other a rotating basket, means arranged outside the basket defined for spacing and guiding the convolutions of the member, means for so moving the member arranged outside ofthe basket definedy means for introducing material into the basket so defined and -means within the basket defined for throwing thel material against the basket walls.

4. A centrifugal including an endless member arranged to move helically to define by a.' plurality of convolutions in proximity to each other a rotating basket, means arranged outside the basket defined for spacing and guiding the convolutions of the member, means for so moving the member arranged outside the basket defined, means for introducing material into the basket so defined and means Within the basket deiined for throwing the material centrifugally against the basket walls.

5. A centrifugal including an endless member arranged to move helically to define a rotating basket, driving means positioned outside of the' for introducing material into the basket defined,

means for collecting a separated liquid and means for collecting and discharging a separated solid.

JOSEPH STUART, II. 

